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Lifes a beach
A fabulous beach is never far away in Florida whether you want a busy stretch with lots of water sports and activities, or a wild uncommercialised coastline where you can look for shells, watch for the ns of dolphins swimming by, and dig your toes into a carpet of soft white sand as you soak up the sun. By contrast, if you want to see and be seen, then head to Miamis South Beach and hang out with the beautiful people.
Natural beauty
Most rst-time visitors are pleasantly surprised to discover that beyond the theme parks and resorts, theres a very different face of Florida to explore, reminding us of just how inhospitable the land was less than a century ago. In fact there are still huge wilderness areas to discover, the most famous being the Everglades, easily explored from Naples or Miami. Even in theme park central, Kissimmee, there are unspoilt parks and backwaters that can be explored on foot, by boat, by canoe, or even swamp buggy watch out for wild turkeys!
Myakka River, Florida Keys
Shoppers heaven
Wherever you are in Florida, youll nd shopping malls and retail parks often on a huge scale offering exclusive designer labels, discount fashions, factory outlet stores and souvenirs galore. Regional specialities include hand-rolled cigars, jellied citrus fruit sweets, Native American crafts, leather belts, boots and hats. And of course the theme parks each offer a vast choice of moneyspending opportunities you cant go home without Mickey Mouse ears! But in places such as Naples and Sarasota there are also many upscale boutiques and European-style specialist shops. Style gurus and fashion lovers will adore Miamis many eclectic one-off shops
Sports mad
Sportsmen love Florida. Its fantastic for golfers, with top facilities and very little chance of your round getting rained off. Several of Orlandos theme parks have golf courses attached, as do some of our own villa and hotel resorts. Tennis is another Florida passion which you can often indulge right inside your hotel or villa grounds. Fancy shing? The Gulf Coasts rivers and lakes are teeming. Or head out to sea in Hemingway style. In the Florida Keys recordbreaking catches are regularly hauled ashore. The Keys are also the place for diving and snorkelling. Other wonderful ways to enjoy the Florida surroundings are hiring a bike, canoeing, horse riding, boating, or just plain old walking.
Glorious food
So, where would you like to dine? Orlando and the Gulf Coast have an irresistible variety of restaurants to match all budgets and tastes. If youre in a hurry, think tasty burgers or buffet. Or take your time over a wonderful dinner at one of the states ne dining restaurants. Everythings good here, particularly the seafood. Get to grips with a grouper sandwich for a change, thats battered local sh, served in a bread roll; or savour a dish of succulent shrimp at a seaside inn. On the Gulf Coast, Miami or the Keys, nd a sh restaurant with a sunny terrace where you can sit back and watch graceful pelicans soaring in the sky.
Thats entertainment
The suns gone down, but the entertainment goes on. Walt Disney Worlds Pleasure Island and Universal Studios City Walk are a fantastic night out whatever your age and choice in music or comedy. Dinner shows are popular in Orlando, staged at many hotels. Listen to jazz or piano music in a quiet bar on the Gulf Coast, take a dinner and sunset cruise, a concert, a movie, or even the theatre. Florida has a booming cultural and performing arts scene too spend a night with the Players of Sarasota for example. If youre a party animal Miami or Key West will suit you perfectly but dont underestimate the number of fashionable nightspots in downtown Orlando and Sarasota either.
Naples
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